Timing is everything, and for Caroline Gordon that was particularly true for her novel about the American Civil War. Had she published "None Shall Look Back" prior to 1936, some believe her Southern war story would've trumped Margaret Mitchell's classic. I wanted to read Gordon's novel and find out for myself. Here's the outcome.
The fall of the House of Darling
This fictional thriller about investor fraud steadily keeps a fast pace, with surprising plot twists. It also takes readers into the world of billionaire Upper East Side NYC life, revealing luxury with consequences. "The Darlings" is author Cristina Alger's debut. If you're looking for page-turning entertainment, this is it.
Discovering Justin Cartwright
No matter how we bibliophiles organize and prioritize our reading tables, it's what Sven Birkerts called the "impulse grab" that's often the best next reading choice. That's how Justin Cartwright figured into my reading life, although it was more like an impulse grab once removed. Here's how that happened.
Charged with violence
"The Outlaw Album" is Daniel Woodrell's first collection of short stories preceded by eight novels. It's a slice of life from backwoods Ozark territory, the setting for which he's known. His characters are violent, but you can't help but feel understanding for them. Woodrell’s novel "Winter's Bone" became a movie that was nominated for Best Picture at the 2011 Academy Awards.
A book list and a control measure
I discovered these six books via review publications. I think they offer the promise of good reading and thought I'd share what I've learned. Brief descriptions and links to more information included. Ficion and non-fiction.
Meet the Lasts, Downton Abbey’s future
Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited" for years has been a favorite of mine, not just the book but also the PBS series that starred Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews. Yet so many say this well-known novel is not Waugh's most accomplished work, and now I agree.
Beware your assumptions
Percival Everett is the author of more than 20 books, including his new crime novel set in the fictional Plata County, New Mexico. The distinguishing feature of this entertaining, triple murder mystery is its savvy, mind-bending unpredictability.
19 Pictures, 22 Recipes: A Cookbook by Paola Ferrario
Paola Ferrario's slim book combines photographs with family recipes. In accompanying essays, the author shares personal stories and life commentary. You won't find this book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Here's why.
Some didn’t believe, some kept flying
Peter Sis' new book, "The Conference of the Birds," is based on an allegory about the search for divine truth written in the 12th century by a Sufi poet. It's richly illustrated and provides an encouraging story for the determined traveler.
An Irish family secret revealed
Brian Moore's novel "The Mangan Inheritance" was published this year by the New York Review Books Classics Series. Set in New York City, Montreal and Drishane, Ireland, it's a good one, with rich characterization and a stunning conclusion.
Shopping Brooklyn bookstores
It's that time of year when New York City teems with holiday lights and traffic jams surrounding the department stores, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. On a recent visit, I avoided the crowds and headed to Brooklyn, where I found a small herd of that endangered species, the independent bookstore.
Santa-land in the Mission District
Here's a novel to sink into for its place and characters, a dive bar filled with diverse patrons you won't easily forget. Enter its world and you'll meet Owen in a Santa suit, Shambles, No Eyebrows and many other colorful people. This exceptional novel, "Damascus" by Joshua Mohr, is brilliantly quirky and compassionately heartfelt.
How we get lost inside our lives
Linda McCullough Moore's new collection of short stories is narrated by a woman whose voice is unforgettable. She narrates all of them, because these are linked stories about moments in her life that began in the 1950s. "This Road Will Take Us Closer to the Moon" approaches readers with confessional intimacy.
It’s in the water, It’s in the story
Lauren Redniss' "Radioactive" tells the love story and scientific collaboration of Pierre and Marie Curie during the 19th and 20th centuries. It's a stunning combination of art and text that expresses much more than biographical events. Here's a look at this compelling, unusual book that uses glow-in-the-dark ink on its cover.
“La vie en Paris,” a siren’s song
Penelope Rowlands feels the siren call of Paris. On her website she writes, "Why, of all the places I've lived, did Paris affect me the most? For, although I’ve lived in half a dozen cities, this one left the deepest mark." The question drove her to compile "Paris Was Ours," a collection of 32 essays by diverse writers who bring us close to Parisian life and culture through their experiences. It's a delightful book to read.
The Longest Chapter 